Leinster march on to face old foes

LEINSTER weren't at their very best but with Jamison Gibson-Park claiming a hat-trick this win sets up another mouthwatering tie with old foes La Rochelle who have beaten the Irish outfit in the last two Champions Cup finals.

- BRENDAN GALLAGHER

Leicester might have been rank outsiders for this title but they started strongly and after intense pressure, Handre Pollard swerved onto a popped ball and held off two tacklers to score by the posts.

Leinster hit back quickly with a simple penalty from Ross Byrne and then the Leinster attack started to crank up ominously, a wondrous long pass from James Lowe bringing the energy and buzz. Moments later Big Joe McCarthy allegedly enduring an end of season dip according to some critics - powered down the left flank before releasing Gibson-Park on the inside for a clinically taken try.

Freddie Steward, playing on the wing, gobbled up the first two high balls launched in his direction but he found a low skudder in fact a miss kick from Hugo Keenan - much more difficult and made a poor effort to field a ball he should have left well alone.

Leicester didn't get the release of pressure they were looking for and suddenly they were defending again.